Unease spread through every corner of Liyue like a parasite. The Geo Archon had passed away? The very thought felt absurd.
This was the great Rex Lapis! The leader who had guided Liyue to victory during the Archon War. And now he had been assassinated?
Those kept in the dark were frantic, while those in the know didn't seem bothered at all.
But one thing was certain: Liyue would be living under a cloud of tension for some time.
...
"That was terrifying. If you had actually fought the Millelith, the whole nation would have put out a warrant for you."
After leaving Yujing Terrace, Paimon said with lingering fear. She nervously scanned their surroundings, still not fully recovered.
"True. I've fought monsters, the Abyss Order, and Treasure Hoarders, but I really didn't want to fight a nation's soldiers."
Lumine shook her head. Soldiers represented a nation's image and strength. Fighting them meant challenging the entire nation.
"Good thing Miss Fashui is such an important person, or we'd have been in real trouble."
Paimon looked at Bonanus with admiration, rubbing her head with a smile.
Lumine nodded. But Miss Fashui had mentioned a commission. Even at a time like this, she still had a task for them. It must have been important.
"Oh, Miss Fashui, what's this commission you mentioned?" Lumine smoothed her hair and asked.
Seeing Lumine finally focusing on the main quest, Bonanus put her hands on her hips, her expression serious.
"This is a matter of great importance to Liyue. I need you to find some people for me."
"They are the three-eyed and five-manifested adepti of Liyue. They live in seclusion in Jueyun Karst: Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer."
"There are also the five guardian Yakshas who serve Rex Lapis. They should be at Wangshu Inn in Dihua Marsh. Their names are Bosacius, Menogias, Bonanus, Indarias, and Alatus."
Saying her own title aloud made Bonanus feel a bit ridiculous. She was right here, yet she was asking someone else to find her.
It was basically "I'm looking for myself."
"Those places are so far away! We'd be walking for days!" Paimon's eyes went wide.
"This is tricky..." Lumine rubbed the back of her head. It wasn't that she didn't want to do it, but traveling back and forth would take too much time.
"Also, they're adepti. I heard they rarely interact with mortals." Paimon shook her head. This commission was really difficult.
But Bonanus had already thought of a solution.
She could give Lumine her personal protective charm. She had bought it from a shop on a whim—mainly because it looked nice.
Having been with her for so long, the charm had absorbed her elemental energy. The adepti would sense it and appear.
As for reaching Jueyun Karst and Dihua Marsh in one day? Lumine's body could handle adeptal energy. If Bonanus enhanced her speed, the trip would be easy.
Not as fast as Xiao, but fast enough to gather all the adepti in Liyue within a day.
"Don't worry. The Jueyun Karst adepti are indeed aloof and don't like visitors."
"But if you keep this safe, they'll come out to meet you."
Bonanus pulled out a blue protective charm from her pocket and handed it to Lumine.
"As for the five Yakshas, no need to worry. They've been mingling with mortals lately and are the easiest adepti to talk to."
"They'll see you as long as you don't lose the charm."
After hearing all that, Lumine and Paimon nodded, a little dazed.
Then a light bulb went off above Paimon's head. This charm must have been given to Miss Fashui by the adepti themselves. That had to be it. It looked special.
"Also, don't worry about the distance. I can infuse my elemental energy into you. Think of it as a boost. It'll make you faster."
After saying that, Bonanus fell silent, waiting for an answer. It was a commission, after all—she needed their consent.
"Hmm..." Lumine rubbed her chin, thinking. If that was the case, Miss Fashui could have done it herself.
So why her?
She shook her head and dismissed the thought. Miss Fashui was an important figure in Liyue. With everything that had happened, she needed to stay.
With that, she couldn't refuse.
"I'll take it. But is there Mora involved?" Lumine accepted the commission, but she still needed payment.
"Of course. Plenty of Mora. Enough to cover your food and fun in this nation."
Bonanus said confidently. She would just ask Zhongli for the money, and he could get it from Childe.
Either way, it wouldn't come out of her pocket.
Poor Childe. But that was his role as a walking wallet. As a top-tier wallet, he should be ready for this.
Hearing about the reward, Lumine perked up immediately. After more details about the adepti's locations, she vanished with Bonanus's charm and Hydro energy.
"Hey! Take me with you!" Seeing her partner disappear, Paimon panicked.
Seriously, the moment she heard there was money involved, she forgot about her best friend?
"Paimon's been left behind. Maybe she doesn't want you anymore." Bonanus teased.
"Ah!! That's so annoying!" Paimon stomped her feet in frustration. She was definitely giving the Traveler a terrible nickname.
But before she could say more, she vanished too, leaving Bonanus alone.
As if hearing her, Lumine had remembered her emergency food and turned back to grab her. For the first time, Paimon experienced a "high-speed ride" she had never felt before.
"The little sister is so cute." Bonanus said calmly, her expression returning to normal.
"And you, stop hiding. If you have something to say, say it." Bonanus looked toward a corner, where a tall, familiar figure stood.
He looked gentle, with a handsome face and a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes—like a heartless killing machine.
He was the Eleventh Fatui Harbinger, Tartaglia. A battle maniac.